Perhaps nobody on Auburn's team is more ready to strap on the pads and take the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium than Lee Ziemba.

While the entire team and fan base is counting down the days and hours until Saturday night's kickoff against Louisiana Tech, Ziemba can't help but look back to the last time he wore an Auburn uniform.

Last November. In Tuscaloosa. A humiliating loss to Alabama.

"The last time I was on a college football field was the Alabama game last year," Ziemba said. "Of course, it's been itching at us for a real long time and we're ready to get back on the field and prove that wasn't us.

"It's been stinging for a long time. I'm ready to get out there and play some ball."

Ziemba, who started all 25 games in his first two years at AU, enters his junior season with a big chip on his shoulder and a lot of motivation to make a statement in 2009.